Superior bottlings by companies that churn out huge amounts of undistinguished, supermarket whiskies tend to be overlooked or even reviled by whisky lovers. Which is a mistake, because this 18Y old Glenlivet is not only a very fine specimen (a sweet and flowery aroma, with just a hint of smoke, followed by strong vanilla, nutmeg and noticeable oak spiciness on the palate), but a great bang for the buck (here, the 0.7l bottle sells for less than USD 60).

It took Deanston a long time to come into their own: Their product went mostly into blended whiskys, and their own previous single malts were often dismissed. Under new leadership, they're marketing two fine yet inexpensive single malts. A "Virgin Oak" variety that does not carry a specification as to how old the whisky actually is (i.e. it's young, 5-6 years probably - and with citrus fruit and oak quite lively and lovely for a modest asking price) - and the 12 Year Old. Smoother, with greater depth, more sherry notes, orange peel, cinnamon, oak, vanilla. Non chill-filtered, no artificial colouring, 46.3% ABV.

Most of that would be sooooooooooooooooo wasted on me! Maybe it was growing up with an alcoholic stepfather, but I never developed a taste for "spirits" -- and most liquor, including beer, is like trying to drink sulphuric acid (don't like coffee either). That said, I've loved Kahlua since a marine buddy took me to a little dark club in Hiroshima Japan in 1964 and they had a drink they called, as I recall, the Tennessee Waltz, and would go back just for the drink, and years later would embarrass myself by asking bartenders to give me 7-Up and Kahlua! I also enjoy Margaritas (without salt}, and got drunk one of the few times in my life from too many Margaritas in 1972, but haven't been close to drunk since. But these days I like to flood my cups of yogurt with Kalua. However, if I had a choice, would rather drink vinegar over fine wine! So I'll admit it: I have no business even posting here. Sorry about that. Let me try to find the discussion about butterscotch sundaes and banana splits at the Tasty Freeze and leave this for those who truly appreciate fine spirits.

Another fine but not terribly expensive Scotch whiskey comes from the enterprising Bruichladdich distillery:

It's un-peated and from Islay, and like many island whiskeys it has an appealing seaweed-, almost salty note in the taste which nicely complements the essential sweetness. Good stuff, but no age indicated (minimum for Scotch is 3 years and a day).

Another fine but not terribly expensive Scotch whiskey comes from the enterprising Bruichladdich distillery:

It's un-peated and from Islay, and like many island whiskeys it has an appealing seaweed-, almost salty note in the taste which nicely complements the essential sweetness. Good stuff, but no age indicated (minimum for Scotch is 3 years and a day).

I began liking beer when I was going to college and beer was $.50 during Happy Hour. I could spend $1.50 and be very content. Then I lost my taste for it until I went to Paris in the mid-eighties and saw that I could buy beer from a vending machine! Who knew?

We have quite a few wineries and some microbreweries around here that produce some nice seasonal spirits.

During the winter holidays, I toast with Baileys Irish Cream. My dream would be to go to Ireland, sit in a little rustic pub and toast the land of me ancestors. The closest I ever got was Shannon Airport in a layover....go brónach

During the winter holidays, I toast with Baileys Irish Cream. My dream would be to go to Ireland, sit in a little rustic pub and toast the land of me ancestors. The closest I ever got was Shannon Airport in a layover....go brónach

I myself will be going to Ireland again a fortnight from now. I too enjoy their beers, but it's a little sad that the English "craft beer revolution" hasn't yet travelled to Ireland. There are more and more microbreweries there now, too, but it's a fraction compared to the UK, and when you just order "a beer" at the bar you'll still always get a Guinness, no questions asked.

During the winter holidays, I toast with Baileys Irish Cream. My dream would be to go to Ireland, sit in a little rustic pub and toast the land of me ancestors. The closest I ever got was Shannon Airport in a layover....go brónach

I myself will be going to Ireland again a fortnight from now. I too enjoy their beers, but it's a little sad that the English "craft beer revolution" hasn't yet travelled to Ireland. There are more and more microbreweries there now, too, but it's a fraction compared to the UK, and when you just order "a beer" at the bar you'll still always get a Guinness, no questions asked.

I would settle for a Guinness if I could raise it at an Irish pub. Please have one for me when you go!